From a principal's – and mom's – perspective

In March 2004, two adults, a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old loaded a Nissan van with everything they needed to live for a month in a hotel and headed west.

About 27 hours later, we, the Westfall family, arrived in Sidney, a city that prides itself in offering small town values ... big time opportunities. As we arrived, Brett, then 7 years old, asked to see his new school.

Why not – what's a few more miles after driving 1,488 miles! As we parked in front of South Elementary on Toledo Street, Brett stated, "Wow, how old is this city anyway?" Larry and I cringed as we knew Brett had left a two-year-old, state-of-the-art elementary school.

So, I responded, "Brett, the building is old but the teachers are great. You will learn as much if not more than in Virginia." And, my statement was so true!

Sidney Public Schools has provided my own children a phenomenal education, and we appreciate all of the dedicated staff from kindergarten through 12th grade who have worked to assist our children. The class sizes have remained small so the boys had more one-on-one assistance if, and when, needed.

Research indicates the importance of small class size for K-2 students. Sidney Public Schools has strived to provide classrooms with 20 or fewer students, K-2, as the school district recognizes the correlation between higher student achievement and small class size.

Now as a principal for grades 1 through 4, I write with overwhelming concern that Sidney Public Schools will no longer provide small class sizes and our children's education will be at stake.

Our district is growing, especially, at the elementary level. We currently have approximately 530 students attending Central, South and North. We are using every classroom, hallway and room available to educate our students. Hallways are overcrowded as students move from class to class. The lunchrooms/gyms are noisy and crowded.

At North, we hold two classes in modulars where students are constantly moving from outside to inside the main building for various classes. We are making it work and the achievement results are currently good. However, with a growing population, our space is maxed out, classroom size will grow and, unfortunately, less individualized instruction will be available to our students.

I am voting, "yes," for the new school bond on Tuesday, Feb. 10. I ask that you take time to vote for our children so Sidney continues to offer "Small town values ... big time opportunities" for our students and our community.